Pruezy11881 wrote:FLPensFan wrote:Pruezy11881 wrote:FLPensFan wrote:I am now seriously contemplating taking a year off from bowling at the end of this season. I'm just too competitive, too frustrated, and not enjoying myself at this point. To me, it's beyond ball use or anything wrong with my form.
197 first game could have easily been a 220-ish game. 9th frame left a 3-6 spare and the ball took off and left the 6. Hit my mark, would throw the same ball again on it.
Bad luck. Not really frustrated at that point, just a little disappointed that an otherwise clean game got knocked down by that.
179 second game. 4-7-10 split in the 4th (probably a little inside on this first ball), and missed my mark to the inside on a 4-7 spare that caused it to hook off into the gutter. Again, disappointed, but I know the mistakes I made. Probably could have been another potential 200 game, but
3rd game...134. I had only 2 marks in the first 7 frames. From the end of the 2nd game to around the 6th frame of the 3rd, I moved I believe 8 boards left and was still having trouble staying non-Brooklyn. It was literally like someone came out and put a sport shot down between the 2nd and 3rd game.
The breakdown of the lanes at this place just never makes any sense to me. I wasn't the only one last night. Anchor of my opponent's team bowled a 287 first game, 211 2nd game, 168 3rd game. 20 handicap bowler dropped just under 120 pins from the first game to the last?????
Anyways, bowling had always been my stress reliever from work, and lately it just ends up causing me more stress and putting me in a worse mood that, for my own mental health I may end up taking a year off after the season.
I know that you don't want a big arsenal of balls, but a lower performing ball or something with surface may do wonders for you. They won't retain as much energy on the back of the pattern (will use more in the heads) and go on an uncontrollable, hockey stick shape.
When you say something with surface, do you mean sanding it with a lower grit? Here is what I own today:
In my bag:
900 Global Reality, asymmetrical, solid reactive, usually at 1500-2000 surface. Most often first ball out of my bag.
900 Global Zen Soul, symmetrical, hybrid reactive, usually at 4000-5000 surface. 50/50 if I break this ball out later in the night.
Storm Pitch Black, symmetrical, urethane, 1000-2000 surface. Spare ball drilled with pin barely above center of fingers.
At home:
Radical Conspiracy, asymmetrical, solid reactive, usually 1500-2000 surface. Supposed to be more continuous motion but never really saw consistent results with this ball.
Roto Grip Rubicon UC2, asymmetrical, pearl reactive, polished. Main reason no longer in my bag is this is a 15lb ball and I moved back down to 14lbs.
Columbia 300 White Dot, plastic spare ball. I'll got back and forth between this and the Pitch Black sometimes.
Hammer Absolut Curve, symmetric, hybrid reactive, polished. This ball is old and probably toast at this point.
I had been thinking about swapping out the Zen Soul for the UC2 recently, even with the weight difference. The other option would be to go get a Burner Pearl if I want to stay with the 900 Global balls. I think that would be a bigger leap down going Reality-->Burner compared to what Reality-->Zen Soul would be.
So you were already throwing something with surface...what did you see happening with the ball and the pin action? Lazy tens, ball rolled out pretty quick and hit like puss?
Yep, my Reality is at 1500 surface.
I've never been an ace at reading lanes. Definitely not completely guessing at it by this point, but not always perfect.
5 years or so ago, the house I bowled at was simple. I'd start at one spot, say standing board 10 and throwing straight down board 10, going into game 2, I was standing around board 13-15, and into game 3, I'd be standing 15-18, still throwing at the 10 board arrow. Back then, my accuracy wasn't great. I'd flare from my mark or just completely pull the ball Brooklyn maybe 30% of the time.
Now that I've gotten "better" over the last 5 years, hit my mark with a lot more accuracy, a lot more consistent follow through, etc, but, I'm not seeing the results on the lane.
Down here in Florida, Bowlero has bought up just about every house. When they first did it, they were trying to shut down all the leagues. They stupidly thought they'd make more money targeting families and college kids, instead of guaranteed weekly revenue from bowlers. It backfired tremendously and after 2 years, they are begging to try and get leagues going again. They have some, but nowhere near the levels they used to. When I got my Zen Soul drilled this summer by the pro shop guy I have known for years (who works at the house I bowl at now), he told me my county had about 7000 registered bowlers in 2018...they are down to about 2500 now. Some of that is pandemic, and some of it is bowlers frustrated by houses not being kept up with. When I bought that ball, I was going to throw a couple practice games. Pro shop guy told me good luck...I doubt that 70% of the lanes haven't been oiled in like 2 days. This is a huge house with 54 lanes.
Back to the actual point of talking about the lanes 5 years ago and now...from my experience, a house shot is relatively standard. There shouldn't be some huge, wild variance in the pattern that is put out for a league from week to week. Yet, there seems to be. If my standard is still standing about board 10 and throwing down board 10, then I'll either move a board or two left or right based on how the ball is hitting the pocket, and maybe up or back an inch. I don't know how to describe the pin action other than I don't have a ton of revs and don't throw extremely hard. But I would say slightly light would be my most typical location in the pocket. Up until last night (just decided to bowl and not worry about the rest), I've always tracked my shots on an app. If I look at my top 3 spare leaves on the season, 68 10 pins, 38 6 pins, and 32 6-10 combos. The next 3 highest are all what I would say are heavy pocket hits...24 4 pins, 24 47 combos, 21 7 pins.
But the lanes just seem to drastically change in both directions over a period of 3 to 5 frames. Ball starts going heavy, you move a bit left, after 2 frames you get dialed into it, and in 2 more frames it's now coming up light and you are back to moving right. Last week was literally the worst one I saw, where if truly felt like after game 2, someone ran out there and laid down a sport shot. Guy that bowled a 289 and is a 20 handicap bowler only bowled a 168 the 3rd game. I believe 8 of the 10 bowlers on the pair dropped significantly in the 3rd game.
I'm not an expert by any means, but bowling for about 15 years now I'd like to think I probably know more than I give myself credit for...and I just don't get it at this point. I hate to be that guy that says it's the lanes, I need a new ball, this or that. I try to be pretty honest with myself if I'm missing my mark, know the ball felt off leaving my hand, etc. But man I am just completely stumped and at a loss anymore.
